Samantha Baker - Pro Fitness Model

Samantha Baker

Height: 5’7 1/2”

Age: 29

Weight: 130

Hometown: Weymouth, Massachusetts

Current residence: Boston, Massachusetts

Marital status: Single

Occupation: Fitness model, figure competitor and personal trainer

Favorite foods: Nonhealthful: pizza and Ben & Jerry’s cake batter ice cream. Healthful: carrot cake protein bars, oatmeal pancakes or oatcakes and turkey-and-zucchini patties.

Workout schedule: My workout schedule consists of five to seven days a week of cardiovascular and weight training. I do my cardio and abdominal and core training in the morning and then go back to the gym in the evening to weight train. I train a separate bodypart each day with four to five exercises for four sets each, performing 12 to 15 reps per set. I alternate my weight-training workouts between free weights and machines.

Sample bodypart workout (shoulders): Overhead presses, 4 x 12-15; lateral raises, 4 x 12-15; upright rows supersetted with front raises, 4 x 12-15 each; cable or machine rear-delt raises, 4 x 12-15

Factoid: I have a bachelor’s degree in management and marketing and am a former NFL cheerleader. I recently started competing in figure, have placed first in my shows and am now a national-level figure competitor.

Future plans: My future plans are to continue with modeling, marketing myself through publications, and ultimately to start writing for the magazines. I also have plans to compete for my pro card in figure so that I can use the information, knowledge and experience to help others in the fitness industry.

Contact info: I can be contacted through my Web site, www.SamanthaBaker.net, Myspace.com/modelSamBaker and Facebook.com/modelSamBaker


A bit about Samantha:
I was raised on the South Shore of Massachusetts where I have always been involved with sports and dance growing up, in school, as well as in college. I decided to further pursue my dance career and try out to become an NFL Cheerleader. I made the squad and was a Professional NFL Cheerleader for a number of years for the New England Patriots.

After Cheerleading I was very interested in the fitness industry and wanted to try to enter the arena of fitness modeling. I have been very lucky to be able to work with many amazing people and photographers and have been published in a number of fitness magazines, appeared nationally and internationally on several magazine covers and most recently have been given the opportunity to become the sponsored fitness model/athlete for EST Nutrition.
I have also for the past year and half entered the arena of figure competing as well. I have been very successful in my endeavors so far, placing first in my first two shows allowing me to compete nationally for the NPC. I recently competed in my first national figure show and placed top ten and will be competing in October again in my second national show where my hopes are to become Pro. This will be my fourth show of my career which would be an amazing goal to achieve!

The fitness arena is a lot of hard work and dedication. I am in the gym five to seven days a week, doing cardiovascular training as well as weight training. I also follow a strict diet year round. It has been through the love and support of my family and friends and by the grace of God that I have been blessed to have been given the opportunities that I have so far. I look forward to the future and working even harder than I ever have before to further my career in the fitness industry.

Christina Halkiopoulos, Fit and Fierce

Hello readers. We have had fitness models before with much success and here we go again.

Today’s model is from Greece but currently resides in Australia, she goes by the name Christina Halkiopoulos and she has a patented brand of fitness which she brings to MXyMAG.com and one couldn’t ask for more.

At 5′ 2″, 105 pounds and curves that measure 34-22.5-33 Dress this bombshell has a body that is trained to physical perfection with an equally sharp mind to match.

In this feature we talk about her moods, men picking her up and of course she lets us in on how she stays this fit

Her feature is definitely a must see for anyone who has an appreciation for fitness models.

What’s your name and where are you from? Christina Halkiopoulos, Currently I live in Australia but I was born and raised in Greece

How would you describe your personality? in 4 words…perfectionist, loyal, honest, goofy

Your biggest flaw? I can get little moody….I mean…very moody….so much so… everyone leaves the room!

What do you hate? Liars and people who try to insult your intelligence… I hate smoking, I hate over eating, I hate Country and Jazz music

What do you love? Honesty, Straight up people, people who are confident enough in themselves that don’t need to hide facts about themselves. I love people helping other people, Gym, chocolate, my family and friends :)

What genre of modeling do you like doing the most? Fitness!

you seem very accomplished already, what would be your ultimate accomplishment? My ultimate accomplishment in fitness field has got to be able to be a role model for other people who wish to live healthy lifestyles….

What do you do to keep yourself in shape? I weight train 6 times a week…with little cardio unless I’m preparing for a show.

What about eating habits? I always follow a high protein diet that includes mainly kangaroo (very high in protein), chicken, fish, complex carbohydrates, “good” fats and lots of vegies and fruit! Supplements from Nutri-sups Worldwide play a vital role in my diet also, cannot miss our best pre workout product that pumps me up for every of my gym session!

What are your height and measurements? Height: 5′ 2″ weight: 105 lbs measurements: 34-22.5-33 Dress/ shoe size: 6

Describe your ideal man… [laughs] ok that’s a challenge!

Well, try us, Someone that handle my “straight up” attitude …I dont “sugar coat” and most men find that little confronting or intimidating…

Ok, He has to love the gym! I admire cute fitness couples, affectionate, I love cuddles! I’m very tiny I love hiding away in a man’s arms, he must be ambitious, no a yes men, I get bored, and he must be loyal

If you had the choice to date a superhero, who would it be and why? Are u asking me if i have an imaginary boyfriend???

No no, a superheroe, like Batman [laughs]. [laughs] I don’t like heroes based on fantasy, I look for the real ones….
Who are the real ones? [laughs] When I find one I’ll tell U ;P

What do you think are the biggest mistakes men make when it comes to approaching and interacting with women? personally:

1.Putting Women On a Pedestal : Most men will look at a hot girl and wish they would be worthy enough to be with such an incredible woman. If you say things like this, you are putting girls on a pedestal. When you do so, you are not being yourself, and that’s not attractive.

2. Viewing Women as Sexual Objects: Viewing women as purely sexual objects gets in the way of connecting with women because you then have an agenda and an attachment to the outcome. You are then trying to get something from her, and that is not attractive to her :(

3. Pushing Interaction: Most guys fail with women because they try too hard to get them. Even trying a little bit is too much. When you push a conversation verbally or physically, women perceive the neediness behind it, and it repels them.

and finally… Using Stupid Pick-Up Techniques….. enough said! lol

Thank you Christina that’s all the time we have for now, any shout outs or any thank yous you have before we finish? Thank you very much to Will Hunter and MXyMAG.com for having me featured! Thank you to my sponsor Nutri-Sups.com for their amazing support and encouragement !

How do you feel about being part of Nutri Sups? Feel very proud to be part of Nutri-sups Worldwide, a team of leaders in the industry. I believe that with all the effort that our team are putting together. there is nothing can stop us from moving forward and achieve the finest…!

Thank u to everyone else who is there for me supporting me in their own unique way.. u know who U are ;)

Big Thank U to Muscle Warefare who are giving me the opportunity to appear at Olympia in September! Come to Muscle Warefare booth to say hi :)

Links
FaceBook Fan Page https://www.facebook.com/pages/Christina-Halkiopoulos/126544447393758
My Nutri-Sups profile http://nutri-sups.com/content/content/christina-halkiopoulos
www.Pimp.Tv http://www.youtube.com/user/ChristinaPimpTv
Model mayhem profile http://www.modelmayhem.com/2198000

NAPALM - Musclewarfare Series by Nutri-sups Worldwide Distribution Pty Ltd

Orangutan Crisis

The purpose of Orangutan Outreach is:

1. To conserve orangutans in their native habitat.
2. To raise and promote public awareness of, and participation in, conservation strategies for orangutans through grassroots campaigns, community involvement and global communication.
3. To collaborate with Indonesian conservationists in the running of orangutan rehabilitation centers.
4. To fund rescue efforts of orangutans confiscated on palm oil plantations.
5. To fund rescue efforts of orangutans held illegally by private owners, whether commercial or individual, who are in direct violation of CITES.




6. To collaborate with zoos and animal parks in North America to promote awareness of orangutan conservation efforts.
7. To use the Internet to provide orangutan-related curriculum materials free of charge.
8. To fundraise locally and globally to support these goals.

Affiliated With

ORANGUTAN OUTREACH INC

Donations Go To…

ORANGUTAN OUTREACH INC
A 501(c)(3) nonprofit

Positions

1. Orangutans need to be protected
2. Indonesian forests must be protected
3. We must stop using palm oil

Please donate one Dollar or Adopt a Orangutan for as little as $10.00 a Month. That's a hell of a lot cheaper than the packet of Cigarettes and or Cartoon of Alcohol you buy etc. Hey and you may even feel better within yourself , knowing that you made a difference, somewhere in the world. Tell your friends and family. This issue will not disappear and another one of our closest relatives disappear from this earth.

Seven Steps to Proper Gym Etiquette

So, you’ve made that new years resolution to lose weight or get in shape. Maybe you’ve just dusted off the gym membership or maybe you’re getting one for the first time. Regardless, there are some simple rules of etiquette that everyone should know and follow at the gym. Learn them, love them, live them.

Follow these fine points and you just might be on your way…..

1. The most perplexing gym faux pas comes from people standing or even working out directly in front of the weight bench. Do you not understand that the free-weights are the most important part of any gym and blocking off access to them is an issue? Take the weights you need and walk into an open area to begin your workout.

2. The use of cell phones should be limited to emergencies only. No one wants to hear your goofy ringtone or your conversation about how wasted you were last night. Additionally, if I can hear you talk over the music on my iPod we have major issues.

3. Just like the stalls in a men’s room the ‘one machine in between’ rule applies. While working out people can get sweaty, odorous and self-conscious. The last thing they want is someone fresh getting on the machine right next to their sweaty selves. If there are 3 treadmills, for instance, the one in the middle should only be used if the 2 on the outside are occupied. Ladies, if there is an opportunity to leave a machine between you and I, but you choose the one directly next to me, I can only take that as an indication that you want to be hit on. Be prepared for me to kick some mad game..

4. It is okay to ask a random person to spot you when lifting heavy weights. Do not abuse this power, however. If you can’t lift 6 reps on your own, don’t waste another’s time. They are not there to help you impress the ladies with how much weight you ‘can’ lift. The job of a spotter is to make sure your arms don’t give out in the middle of a set, not to lift the weight for you.

5. Wiping down machines is common courtesy. All gyms now provide sanitary wipes and or Lysol sprays. Use them.

6. Grunting is an acceptable practice at the gym, but only when used appropriately. If you are doing it just for the attention please note you’re only getting the wrong type and you’re not impressing anyone. If you just want attention put on a bright Hawaiian shirt and head to the nearest mall.

7. For those who know what they are doing, it is actually painful to watch others do things wrong. Please read a magazine or ask for help if you aren’t sure what you’re doing. Doing bicep curls for example, shouldn’t involve whole body heaves. If that’s what it takes to lift the weight you should drop down to less weight. Form and technique are much more important than weight.

The gym can be a great place to work out stress, tension and anxiety. It should not create any.

Five Workout Myths Everyone Fails To Realize

There are a lot of myths out there when it comes to working out. Who are these clowns that spread this false information? Frankly, I’m tired of hearing them over and over. So, without further adieu, allow me to bust the top 5 workout myths…..

Myth I hate #1: I’m afraid weight training will make me put on too much muscle and “bulk me up.”

This is something that usually worries women, at least I don’t know many men that fear putting on too much muscle. “Oh, no, I want to keep this pear shape I’ve got going for my body with twigs for arms.” Yeah, not that common. First off, muscle hypertrophy (getting bigger muscles) is very difficult for women since they don’t have testes to produce testosterone, an androgen (male characteristics) anabolic hormone which is #1 in hormones when it comes to muscle-building. Men produce forty to sixty times more testosterone than women. So as a woman, your chances of getting big naturally (without taking steroids) are minimal coming from weight training. The “toned” and lean look that most strive for comes from having built some muscle on your frame. The more lean body mass (muscle tissue) you have the higher your metabolism gets (burning more fat doing nothing at all), so by missing out on the benefits of weight training you’ll most likely become even fatter or skinny-fat (skinny with no muscle tone, pretty much fat and bone). So, if you still want to keep on doing your treadmills/bikes and cardio burn classes without weight training, and continue your impossible mission for a lean and toned physique, go for it!

Ok, so “bulking up” comes from bodybuilders and other athletes who during their off-season program eat excessive amounts of calories to keep their bodies in an anabolic state to gain as much muscle as possible. During this time, some go overboard and might put on an extra 50lbs, which, during this phase, will make them look fat. You will only get bulky if you eat excessive amounts, like 10,000 calories a day like they do. So, weight training and muscles are not to be blamed, it’s a bad diet that’s to blame for a “bulky” look.

Myth I hate #2: Less calories makes you lose weight, so eating less will make me lose weight and get lean.

There is a difference between losing weight and losing fat. Too many get focused on numbers (“I have to weigh 140lbs or else!”) and end up doing drastic, stupid things to get there. You should only be obsessed with weight if you’re in a sport with weight classes. Like most humans, we seek instant gratification, and end up doing weird and really tough ”cleanses” and diets, or put on a plastic suit and sweat our asses off on the bike. These things will make us lose those 5 pounds in 2 suffering-and-hunger-filled weeks. We then go back to eating normally again and end up putting on weight again and being fatter than we were before our “brilliant” diet or “cleanse”. There are some stupid diets like the “Super Duper Cleanse” where you are only allowed to eat and drink something absurd like 3 liters of water, lemon, half almond and a dash of something random like spicy chipotle seasoning. When you do this your body is put into starvation mode and starts using energy systems like gluconeogenesis, which breaks down amino acids from the muscles to turn it into energy so your body can function. Once you’re done starving yourself and proud that you made it, you have lost some fat, but also lost a significant amount of muscle (lean body mass). So when you go back to a normal diet you will start putting on more weight (unwanted fat) do to a lowered metabolic rate which your muscle that you lost once helped boost up. As I said earlier you’ll end up fatter and have less muscle. Not smart. Short term, it’s an okay method, but long term, you screwed yourself.



Myth I hate #3: I’m afraid that if I stop working out my muscles will turn into fat.

Fat chance… Muscle can’t be converted to fat. If you stop working out, your muscle will atrophy (lose size, if you don’t use it, you lose it) bringing your metabolism down, and if you continue to eat like you did while you were working out without burning those calories like you were before, you will get fat. It’s not because your muscles became fat, it’s because you got fat. So with this myth, does everything else become fat too if I don’t use it, like my bones or my wiener? Stupid



Myth I hate #4: Running a mile will burn more than walking a mile.

When it comes to calorie-burning, in this case, it’s the distance, not how fast you run, that determines the amount of calories you burn. You’ll burn the same amount running a mile as just walking a mile. Sure, your heart will have to work at a higher heart rate for awhile when you run, which is good for heart health, but if your goal is calorie loss, it doesn’t matter which one you do.

When it comes to losing fat, I would pick the latter, walking. It takes longer which is good for fat burn because it takes about 20min or so for your body to start utilizing your fat as an energy source and the lower heart rates allow your body to use energy systems that are more efficient when it comes to burning fat. Heart rates around 55-60% of your maximum heart rate (220-(your age)=maximum heart rate) for a period of at least 30min is optimal for just burning fat.

Myth I hate #5: I need to get rid of this little “pouch” on my lower abs so I’ll do bunches of ab work for lower abs to get rid of it.

There are two things I would like to bust in this one. First, you can do abs ’til the cows come home and still not get washboard abs. Sure you’ll get strong abs, core strength is always good, but the “six-pack” will not appear by doing that. To get a visual six-pack you have to get rid of the subcutaneous fat, the fat underneath your skin on top of your muscles, to get that desired look. The trick isn’t a machine on a infomercial, the trick is to lose body fat. So diet and cardio is the key to a six-pack. Spot reduction is not possible either, so doing a lot of abs will not burn off the fat on your midsection.

Second, there is no such thing as “working my lower abs”. The rectus abdominis, the outer layer of muscle in one’s abdomen, is the muscle people refer to as their “abs” or “six-pack”. This is one long muscle that starts at the pelvis (pubis or pubic bone) and attaches to the sternum (costal cartilage of ribs 5 to 7 and the xiphoid process). As with all muscles in the body, you can’t contract (“flex”) one part of a muscle and not engage the whole thing. So whatever you are doing for abs, you are hitting the whole thing. Genetics will determine the way your abs look, so you can’t change that 6 pack into a 8 pack, some people have 6, some have 8, it’s just the way it is.